Freedom to Music
Wally – Wally (1974) (@256)
15 Jul 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
While much of the sixties were marked by the British invasion of America and all points west and east of Liverpool, there seem to have been some points in time where the influences flowed the other direction, if only in isolated pockets. Wally are one of those rare examples of this phenomenon.
Wally was formed in the early 70s, discovered in 1972 when they reached the finals of a “Melody Maker” contest. Bob Harris, one of the judges, got them a contract and with the support of Rick Wakeman co-produced their debut self titled album in 1974.
The album has a clear symphonic sound, specially in the opener “Martyr” and the twelve minutes epic “To the Urban Man” with great mellotron but a good deal of country music influence, more evident in songs as “I Just Wanna Be a Cowboy” that mixes some Eagles sound.
Line-up:
- Pete Cosker / Electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, bass guitar
- Paul Gerrett / Fender Rhodes, harmonium, grand piano, harpischord, Mellotron, hammond organ, vocals
- Paul Middleton / Steel guitar, bass guitar
- Roger Narraway / percussion
- Pete Sage / Electric violin, bass guitar, mandolin
- Roy Webber / lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Track List:
01. The Martyr – 7:59
02. I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy – 4:03
03. What To Do – 7:37
04. Sunday Walking Lady – 2:36
05. To The Urban Man – 13:45
06. Your Own Way – 5:27
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about 5 years ago
OGG!
Filesonic -> http://tinyurl.com/3hpd6yh
Hotfile -> http://tinyurl.com/3nba8xr
Rapidshare -> http://tinyurl.com/3odmc7y
Password -> sakalli
about 1 year ago
in 1974, I saw the band WALLY in Tokyo. They came to Tokyo with French singer Michel Polnareff, as his back band. Both Polnareff and WALLY were so great!
Thank you.
- k_kase from Japan
about 1 year ago
I’ve just had a couple of memories from this band’s name. Wally were the opening band for Rick Wakeman at Crystal Palace Bowl, where he performed King Arthur with large inflatables on the pond. Wally got that day off to a really good start. Leo Sayer was also on the bill, as I remember. What varied bills you’d get in those days!
Something else I recall. For some strange reason, I don’t recall why, audiences used to call out ‘WALLY!’ before concerts began. I don’t think this was particular or peculiar to Sheffield, my home town. Could be this was one of those silly hippie things that took flight in those days. Someone calls someone else’s name and….. WALLY! is born!
This was before Wally, the band, arrived on the scene, and could be where they got their name from. Perhaps someone could enlighten me on that one.
about 1 year ago
I saw Wally in 1974/75 at the Penthouse in Scarborough uk, was any body there that remembers it
about 1 year ago
I keep on listening to my albums of them all the time
about 1 year ago
about 11 months ago
Thanks so much for these two posts! I remember Wally very well – I was Social Secretary at my College in 1974, and we promoted the ‘Bob Harris Roadshow’ for our main winter concert – and Wally were the headline act.
In those days live music was a treat for 16 year olds at college – and we packed out the hall with over 600 people (somewhere…..there is a ‘bootleg’ tape that we recorded on a twin-track reel to reel….but that’s another story).
These albums bring back fond memories of my teenage years….many thanks…(and yes. shouting ‘WALLY’ at concerts WAS a ‘hippy thing’…!)